Elisabethsew

Just keep in mind that carbohydrates begin to be digested in the mouth (unlike fats and proteins) so spitting it off does not mean a zero calorie intake.

While restaurants don't allow you to bring food in, they will never know if you bring your own salad dressing. Walden Farms make delicious fat-free, no calorie, no carb dressings and are found in the refrigerator section of the grocery store. Order a salad that has Protein and garnish with your own dressing. Have you and your friends ever planned a brown-bag lunch in the park rather than buying out every day? Would your friends agree to one or two days as "bring your food to work" days? There are tons of recipe sites on the web... just Google low calorie recipes.

I am post-op day 10 and was placed on full fluids 2 days after surgery (protein shakes, pureed soups, fat-free/sugar-free pudding and yogurt and jello, etc.). Because I am not a yogurt lover, the dietician allowed me to have ricotta cheese (lite, 4 oz, 140 cal) once a day. On week three, I move to a soft diet for 3 weeks and then onto solids on week 5.

It seems to me that the fair thing would have been for that person to give you back at least half of your money. I hope fillcenterusa gives you some favorable options.

I had coffee the day after surgery without any problems. The only thing I noticed was that my regular size cup (12 oz) filled me up. I used an eight ounce cup until yesterday (post-op day 9) and now tolerate the regular size. Enjoy YOUR coffee!

I am 10 days post-op and have my first weigh-in at the post-op appt. on 4/14. I do have a friend (male, 41) who was banded in July of 2005 and has lost just under 100 pounds (start weight 340 pounds). Of course, we all know men lose faster than women... so unfair.

Everyone's tastes are different. I absolutely love the crystal lite lemonade but have been sticking to mostly water since my surgery 10 days ago. Maybe you'd be better brewing some fresh iced tea?

Hi Diedre The dietician that had to meet with at my surgeon's office went over the post-op eating regime and provided me with a booklet of what to eat that even contained sample weekly menus. I looked at the one week pre-op and two week post-op full Fluid diet that includes 60 g Protein a day and made a comment that 650 calories seemed too low for someone my weight. She countered and told me that the shakes provide the nutrients and protein and that weeks 1-2 were 650 cals. This increased to 850 cals for weeks 3-5 (soft diet) and then went to 1000-1100 cals for solids on week 6. Donna - An icecream shake sounds wonderful. LOL. Thankfully, I found EDYs fat-free/sugar-free frozen yogurt. Four ounces has 100 cals and it's delicious (praline and cream flavor is to die for). Thank you all for your advice. I actually live for my 4 oz of lite ricotta cheese every day. LOL.

I am post-op day 9 and still cannot turn onto my left side. I have been able to turn to the right but only for the last 2 nights and some pain is involved in that also. The port site is still bruised, swollen and very tender. Everyone heals at a different rate... just make sure you get in all the required protein daily to facilitate the healing process.

Thank you for responding, Vegas. It felt so strange to go from feeling full all the time to not feeling full at all.

I am now 9 days post-op and am starting to feel hungry. After surgery, I felt full just from drinking a cup of coffee but over the last two days have noticed that I don't feel full anymore. I'm on a full fluid diet which includes frozen yogurt and pudding (both fat-free/sugar-free), lite ricotta cheese, protein shakes, pureed soups, and skim milk. I don't know what size inamed band I have but the swelling has come way down even though it's still very tender by the port and badly bruised. Is it normal to be hungry at this stage of the game? I'm following the diet which allows 650 cal/day After 2 weeks post-op, I move to soft foods for 3 weeks at 850 cal/day. Could it be the decreased swelling that has taken away the full feeling? I would appreciate any feedback. Thank you. :help:

I am nine days post-op and know how you're feeling. Drink tons of water, walk as much as you can, and bend over as if you're picking something up whenever you can... this moves the gas out. Finally, get off the codeine ASAP... it causes constipation and can make gas pains worse. I hope you feel better soon.

Congratulations on your amazing progress and improved health status. Why did you regret having the surgery post-op? I am 8 days into being banded and finally starting to feel human again. LOL.

Is an endoscopy part of the floow-up for lapband surgery?

Hi Butch, I don't think you were unreasonable in requesting your money back and your logic makes perfect sense. I see Dr. Geiss for my first post-op appointment on 4/14 and really don't understand how they determine when I will get my first fill. I'm only 8 days into this banding and learning as I go and read the experiences of others. I'm glad that you got another appointment. If it's any consolation, you're coming to NY at a beautiful tme of the year.

Happy Anniversary and Congratulations. You're an inspiration to everyone. Best of luck to you.

Hi Beejay, I had my surgery on 3/30/06 and went into the OR at 4:30 PM, was in the recovery room at 6:10 PM, got to my room at 8 PM and was up walking at 4 AM. I had a visual esophagram the morning after surgery to determine that the band and was OK and was home by 11 AM. Like you, I chose not to tell too many people about the surgery... just 2 close friends.

I just checked my plan and on post-op week 3, I can have soft foods. It lists tuna salad and soft fishes such as filet, tillapia and flounder and states to avoid salmon, shrimp, swordfish, etc. I hope that helps. I could live on fish and can't wait to get to the soft foods stage.

I ran into the same problem with my insurance company so I had my MD write a letter to them stating that he advised me to join Weight Watchers, etc. and considers them "supervised" as you weigh-in weekly. I then had my arthritis MD write a letter stating that he advised the surgery as well as my cardiologist. I got the name of my case manager and faxed the letters to her along with copies of medical records from past hospitalizations. You can request them from the hospital but they do charge a small fee. Finally, they gave me approval. It's not easy and it does take a lot of phone calls and leg work but, if you persist, you can get approval. To make it easier, I actually wrote the letters for the MDs and got them to sign it. I will keep my fingers crossed you win. I am one week post-op today.

Drink tons of water, take a hot shower and walk and bend as much as you're able to.

Hi Butch, I'm sorry to hear about your negative experiences trying to get a fill. One week ago today I was banded by Dr. Geiss and have heard nothing but good things about him and his staff. Have you considered making a 2 day visit to NY for a fill? That way, if you feel the fill was not enough you could go back the following day for an additional one. I know it's a long drive to NY but it might be worth it to get the care you need in a professional manner.

Welcome back and thank you for sharing your experience. I am glad that your personal problems are history and you're back to losing. I wish you continued success.

It's interesting to hear how the procedure is done in different places. I had mine done a week ago today but did not have staples. They used self-dissolving sutures and a clear shiny covering over that. I had no steri-strips or dressings and could shower the day after surgery.

I am also 6 days post-op as of today and can have yogurt and pudding on my 2 week post-op full fluid diet. Everyone heals at a different rate and I am still VERY sore. My stomach is black and blue, I can't sleep on my side, I'm bored with the diet but everyday seems to be a little better than the previous one and my focus now in on healing and preventing infection. Give yourself some time and focus on positive outcomes.

I am new here and am sorry to hear that you feel discriminated against for choosing to have a bypass gastric surgery. I was banded on 3/30/06 and work full time as a registered nurse. Because of the prejudice towards fat people that I have lived with my entire life, I chose not to tell my family or co-workers about my surgery. Only 2 people know and that's the way it will remain. Because of my decision not to reveal my surgery to friends and family, I sought out this site for support. My choice to go with lapband surgery was based on my own research and my medical history. That said, I could tell you all horror stories of people who had bypass gastric surgery as well as those who had lapband surgery. I work in intensive care and that's where these poor people end up. Rather than discuss horror stories, I prefer to dwell on successes. Everyone posting here is healthy and has chosen a surgical intervention to assist in reaching optimal health. Let's be thankful that we're alive and well and just support one another in the common goal of getting rid of the excess weight. Many roads lead to the same destination and what's most important is not the road but finding our way safety to the destination. Just my thoughts as I approach my one week post-op date.